The Bar professional training course, or BPTC, is the vocational course that all barristers must complete. Here is the information which you all need to know about BPTC.

The Bar professional training course, or
BPTC, is the vocational course that all barristers must complete. The BPTC
takes the academic study students have already undertaken and applies it in a
more practical context.

You need to take the vocational BPTC
before beginning the practical stage of training to become a barrister, the
pupillage.

BPTC eligibility

Getting a place on a BPTC course and
becoming a barrister isn’t just about your academic eligibility; it’s a very
competitive process. Each year there are over 3,000 applications for 1,500 or
so places.

As well as a willingness to enter the
fray, you’ll need:

·a
law-based undergraduate degree (at 2.2 or above)

·if
you are converting to law, the CPE or GDL, or a postgraduate law degree

·to
pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT)

·Inns
of Court membership.

Each of the nine providers has their own selection process,
but all will look at your grades, the efforts that you’ve already made towards
becoming a barrister, your communication skills and your references.

What does the BPTC involve?

The course is made up of four areas. The
Bar Standards Board (BSB) breaks these down as:

Case work skills

·Case
preparation

·Legal
research.

Written skills

·Opinion-writing
(giving written advice on cases)

·Drafting
(writing various types of documents required for litigation).

Interpersonal skills

·Conference
skills (interviewing clients)

·Negotiation

·Advocacy
(court or tribunal appearances).

Legal knowledge

·Civil
litigation and remedies

·Criminal
litigation and sentencing

·Evidence

·Professional
ethics

·Optional
subjects.

You’ll need to pick your two optional
subjects from a selection of at least six (these vary from course provider to
provider). For example, BPP Law School offers:

·Company
law

·International
trade

·Property
and chancery

·Intellectual
property

·Public
international criminal law

·Personal
injury and clinical negligence

·Professional
discipline

·Employment
law

·Family
law

·Judicial
review

·Advanced
criminal litigation

·Advanced
commercial litigation.

The BSB monitors and provides the accreditation of all BPTC courses.

Teaching modes

Doing
the BPTC on a full-time basis takes an academic year. BPP Law School, the University of Law, the City Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University and UWE all offer a part-time course that takes two
years.

Assessment

The way the course is assessed does vary
slightly from course provider to course provider. Generally speaking it’s a
mixture of multiple choice, written papers and practical exercises
demonstrating your conference, advocacy and negotiation skills (often filmed
for review).

You’ll be assessed throughout the year on
each of the subjects and awarded an overall grade at the end of the course: outstanding,
very competent or competent. Below 60 per cent and it’s a ‘not competent’ mark
and a fail.

Don’t think about having any sneaky
lie-ins either; an attendance rate of less than 90 per cent is also a fail.

How to apply

Sign up for our UKEC Law Fair- Newcastle to get
opportunity having interview with leading Law school face to face.